Sohail Afridi releases draft for talks with government

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday released the draft he sent to the PTI negotiating committee, saying it contained no unconstitutional or illegal demands.

According to Afridi, the draft proposed an agreement on political stability, the supremacy of the Constitution and law, and the continuation of the democratic process.

It also called for arranging regular meetings between the prime minister and the leaders of the opposition in both houses of parliament.

The meetings would provide an opportunity for detailed discussions on important political, national, constitutional, legal and democratic matters, as well as pending issues.

The KP chief minister said the prime minister should form a joint negotiating committee comprising representatives of the ruling coalition, the Pakistan Peoples Party and opposition parties.

He said political and national issues should be resolved through mutual consultation and dialogue.

Afridi said the draft also proposed providing Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi with their legal, humanitarian and medical rights in accordance with the jail manual and prevailing laws.

It called for meetings to be held in line with the law and prison rules and regulations, and stressed that the facility to meet prisoners should not be used for political or other purposes.

According to Afridi, unnecessary delays in cases involving women, elderly and sick prisoners should be eliminated, while women political prisoners, including Yasmin Rashid and Bushra Bibi, should be released on humanitarian grounds.

He said the draft also proposed that the political negotiating committee submit actionable recommendations within one month.

The KP chief minister said the PTI would call off its long march if the federal government provided written assurances on these proposals.